Who pays for repairs?

Tuipoodle

My father in law died in January.  My husband worked with his father and his father owned the property where they worked.  The property has been left to my husband but needs repairs to the roof.  It was planned for these repairs to be done shortly.  Who should pay for these? Surely the property is still owned by father in law and his estate should pay.  We could pay the builders now and be reimbursed from fil’s estate once probate has been finalised.  We have asked the executor (who is their accountant) and he says he has taken legal advice from a solicitor and this can’t be done.  Why not?  Anybody know?

Keep_pedalling

No the estate should not pay as it would be the residual beneficiaries who would be disadvantaged by this. If you leave an item to someone, whether it is a house or Ming vase, then they inherit it in the condition it is in on the day the testator died. 

lisyloo

So your options are either to pay for the repairs yourself if they are either urgent, would hinder a house sale in current form, or would help the resale value or you if not urgent you cancel the repairs and sell the house as it is.